Tesla is conducting a recall of over 1.6 million vehicles in China, addressing issues related to steering software and door-locking systems, as reported by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).
The affected models include the S, X, 3, and Y, as well as 7,538 imported vehicles. Unlike traditional recalls, Tesla plans to rectify these issues through remote software updates, eliminating the need for customers to visit dealerships or garages.
This action follows a similar recall in the United States just a month ago, where two million cars were recalled due to problems with autopilot software. In May of the previous year, the Chinese regulator had flagged potential acceleration and braking system issues in more than a million vehicles. Subsequent investigations by Tesla revealed complications with assisted driving functions and door-locking systems.
The SAMR categorizes the upcoming software update as a recall, despite its remote nature. Tesla will deploy an over-the-air software update for a total of 1,610,105 vehicles, including imported Models S and X, as well as China-made Models 3 and Y produced from 2014 to 2023. The primary focus of the update is to address issues with the autosteer function, aiming to mitigate the risk of collisions.
The SAMR clarified that the recall is prompted by concerns that when the automatic assisted steering function is activated, drivers might misuse the level two combined assisted driving function, elevating the risk of collisions and posing a safety hazard.
Tesla will also release a software upgrade for 7,538 units of Models S and X to resolve concerns related to doors potentially unlocking in crashes.
This development comes as a setback for Tesla in China, where BYD surpassed Tesla in electric car sales globally during the last quarter of 2023. Tesla had previously faced a significant recall in China in 2022, involving nearly 128,000 cars due to a rear motor inverter defect.
Despite these challenges, Tesla maintains a substantial consumer market in China, driven in part by government incentives encouraging the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. China’s broader goal of having a majority of vehicles powered by clean energy by 2035 aligns with Tesla’s mission. The company’s manufacturing plant in Shanghai, Tesla’s first “Mega Factory” built outside the United States, delivered 947,000 vehicles in 2023, according to reports from the state news agency Xinhua.
